Each year as Jews, we spend three weeks grieving something that none of us have ever seen, touched, heard or experienced. Each year during this time, we don’t hold weddings and we don’t shave. The last nine days of the three weeks are much more intense when we don’t eat meat and we abstain from anything that’s risky. It’s odd that we grieve so intensely for the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s odd that we mourn this thing that has never played any real role in our lives. What makes it even odder is we’re not even all that clear on if we actually want to rebuild the Temple. Do we want to resume animal sacrifices? What would be the role on the non-kohenim who’ve grown so used to being closer to Judaism now that it’s not determined by blood? Who would run the Temple? Would it be Orthodox Jews or Conservative? Would it be Sephardic or Ashkenazic? How would decisions be made in this new Temple? All of this leaves us questioning the necessity and the efficacy of mourning on Tisha B’Av each year.
I assert that Tisha B’Av is still an essential observance for the Jewish people. I do mourn the Temple I’ve never experienced. I mourn it because its destruction marked an enormous shift in the Jewish people and our relationship to God. I mourn it because it marked the expulsion of the Jewish people from our ancestral homeland. I mourn it because it didn’t just stop existing on the 9th of Av in 70CE… it was destroyed by an enemy who also massacred our ancestors. But, I believe there’s an even greater reason to mourn and observe the rituals of Tisha B’Av. I believe that mourning is a necessary behavior we try all too hard, and all too often, to ignore and not go through. We belittle grief and assume “it will just get better.” When people deal with grief, others see it as a sign of weakness and not the sign of life affirming and value loving that it actually is.
We inherited a broken world. The world in which we live is rough and leaves much to be desired. While certainly there is so much to be thankful for and to celebrate… there is also so much to mourn and grieve over. The wise way of coping with life is to acknowledge the imperfection of life. We need to be willing to step to the side and see that there is so much hurt in our world. We need to be courageous enough to be vulnerable and admit we struggle and feel pain. We need to be willing to cry in front of others and question why things have to be the way that they are. This is not a simple task but one that will make our lives more complete and better all at once.
To fully understand life, and to better appreciate all that we have, we need to understand nothing can be taken for granted. We need to step outside of ourselves and see that the world has given us so much. The only way to experience this is to acknowledge our losses and our hurt to enable us to gain a clearer picture of our gains and our joys. This will only be achieved when we agree to grieve and understand that grieving makes us more alive. It will only be achieved when we mourn our brokenness and thus celebrate all we have in spite of it.
We will once again be able to share Kiddush with the Keilah following Shabbat Morning Services beginning on Saturday, July 24. Please join us as we reunite with friends, old and new, and welcome Rabbi Hearshen back from Camp Ramah Darom.
In order to have a special reunion, we are seeking sponsors for Kiddush. Sponsorships are a great way to honor friends and family, celebrate milestones or just show your support for our Keilah.
At this time, Kiddush will be served prepackaged inside the social hall to allow us to enjoy the food with members of the Keilah.
Click here to send us your submissions for one or more of the above!
Deadline for submissions is Friday, July 23.
BIRTHDAYS Sunday Jacob Akbashev Michael Amato Zachary Judah Maslia Tuesday Ashleigh Dobrin Thursday Bryan Lavine Leah Franco William Hatherley
Friday Allison Bouhadana Julie Gabbai Mark Benator Robert Habif
ANNIVERSARIES No anniversaries this week.
Meldados
Shabbat Bruce Benator for Grandmother Estreya Benator Josiah V. Benator for Mother Estreya Benator Louise Sinkoe for Brother Morris Bobo
Sunday Barry Shemaria for Father Jack Shemaria Hymie Shemaria for Brother Jack Shemaria Ila Galanti for Mother Anna Greenberg Louie Shemaria for Brother Jack Shemaria Mariya Akbashev for Grandfather Amnun Iskhakov Merrill Shemaria for Father Jack Shemaria
Monday Craig Rich for Brother Alan Rich Elena R. Franco for Grandfather David Amato Leah Franco for Father David Amato Melvyn Halfon for Father Jack Halfon Ralph Amiel for Mother Lydia Amiel Stanford Firestone for Grandmother Mary G. Firestone
Tuesday Amy Maslia for Father Stewart Lipp Corrine Rousso for Brother-in-law Jack D. Rousso Jeannine Altmann for Father Alberto Israel Marie Rousso Saffan for Brother Jack D. Rousso Peggy (Margaret) Tourial for Uncle Jack D. Rousso Sidney Tourial for Uncle Jack D. Rousso Tillie Glass for Mother-in-law Bessie Rosenberg Glass
Wednesday Nancy Galanti for Father Stanley Mioduser Ron Chanin for Mother Evelyn Chanin
Thursday Judith Hirsch for Sister Marlene Duwell Capouya Leslie Capouya for Wife Marlene Duwell Capouya Sarah Duwell for Daughter Marlene Duwell Capouya
Friday Alan Taranto for Grandmother Lea Taranto Laurette Hanein for Father-in-law Josef Hanein Raya Aronova for Sister Rivka Aronova Suzanne Hanein Eisenberg for Father-in-law David Eisenberg Vicki Grosswald for Grandmother Lea Taranto
Sisterhood Fiesta Fun with Flowers Sunday, May 5th 10:30a to 12:00p Learn floral design techniques and create a fresh cut flower arrangement to take home. Limited to 30 people. Individual registration only.
May Splash and Play Monday, May 27th 4:00p to 7:00p Join us on Memorial Day for an afternoon of fun at the new splash pad and pool at Lynwood Park in Brookhaven. We've reserved the upper pavilion near the playground. Enjoy BBQ on us or bring a picnic lunch.
FunRaising Dinner - Rabbi and Carrie Hearshen Sunday, Jul 21st 6:00p to 8:00p Join us for dinner hosted by Rabbi and Carrie Hearshen. Rabbi Hearshen will prepare his famous BBQ! All proceeds benefit OVS.